And the ’beet goes in
Edibles
Plant silverbeet, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks… trust your local garden centre. If they are selling seedlings of it now, chances are high it is the right time to plant it.
Sow beetroot, broad beans, carrots, onions, radish, spinach, swedes and turnips.
Plant garlic.
Harvest pumpkins, leaving about 7cm of stalk on them. Let dry in the sun for a few days before storing in dry, airy space.
In all but the coldest districts, strawberries may be planted.
Divide rhubarb crowns (about once every five years is fine). Dig up, divide so each part has one part of the rhizome and at least one growing point. Usually, sections from the outer plant are better than pieces from the centre. Replant as soon as possible, with the growing point at, or just below, the soil surface in full sun in rich soil.
Ornamentals
Fortunately, the best time to plant trees and shrubs selected for their autumn colour is when they are displaying that very same colour. So, get outside and see for yourself before you buy.
Trees with fabulous autumn colours include cotinus, maples, nyssa, claret ash, liquid amber, ginkgo, and Cercis ‘‘Forest Pansy’’. Colourful shrubs include fothergilla, witch hazel, oak-leaf hydrangea and sumac; and for vines consider Boston ivy, ornamental grape and Virginia creeper.
Why do leaves change colour? With shorter days, less light and cooler temperatures, trees begin to stop food production, so the amount of green pigment (chlorophyll) in the leaf reduces, letting other pigments (carotenoids, which produce the orange colours, xanthophyll for yellow and anthocyanins for reds and purples) dominate.
Plant (or move if need be) roses and other shrubs and trees as they are entering their dormant period.
Sow a new lawn, or repair an old one, while the soil and air temperatures are still warm enough to aid germination.
Plant seedlings for winter flowers, such as Bellis perennis, forget-me-nots, pansies, primroses, primulas, violas, and wallflowers.
Sow seeds of aquilegia, alyssum, calendula, cineraria, cornflower, dianthus, godetia, linaria, livingstone daisy, lobelia, lupin, nemesia, snapdragon, statice, and viola.
Plant tulip bulbs in full sun, sheltered from winds and in rich, well-drained soil. Mix blood and bone and lime into the soil at planting. The lighter the soil, and the hotter the spot, the deeper the planting. Tulips do not like to bake. Planting depths will vary between 10cm and 15cm. Plant about 12cm apart.
Plant other bulbs.
– Mary Lovell-Smith